blueprints

218 | toolkit: hammer, saw, and nails
request a packet of nonprofit materials from that office that should
include sample articles of incorporation and your state’s laws on
nonprofit corporations.
• Write your bylaws (see below), which will dictate the operations of
your organization.
• Recruit an initial board of directors.
• Hold the first meeting of the board of directors, and officially
approve your bylaws.
• Apply for any licenses or permits that your corporation will need
to operate in your state and local municipality.
Develop Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
Your bylaws and articles of incorporation are the primary official documents
required for any corporation, whether it is a for-profit business or a
nonprofit organization. The particular requirements for bylaws are set by
the state in which the organization incorporates.
Articles of incorporation include the organization’s name, the name of
the authorizing official or person(s), the purpose for which the organization
was formed, assurance that no assets of the nonprofit organization benefit
the members (shareholders), the number and names of initial board
members, and the location of the registered office where legal papers can
be served to the organization, if necessary.
Typically written during the incorporation phase, bylaws are rules that
govern the internal management of an organization. Bylaws are created by
the organization’s founders or board members and include, at minimum,
how board meetings are conducted, what officers the organization will have
and their duties, voting procedures, and other operational details. In the eyes
of the law, your organization does not formally exist until your board of
directors approves your bylaws. Therefore, at your first formal meeting of
the board, your agenda should include the adoption of your bylaws and
election of your officers, as well as any other business details that need to be
completed to start the “formal” operations of your organization.
File With the IRS
After you have filed all the paperwork for nonprofit incorporation in
your state and received a copy of your articles of incorporation, you are
ready to submit an application to the IRS for your federal nonprofit status